There was a fourth time around three a.m. where they made love on their side, a position he had never mastered with anyone else. The exhaustion of the weekend and the night of passionate lovemaking had sucked their energy dry. Zoey only had the energy to find clean underwear to wear before collapsing into an exhausted, topless heap. Jonathan pulled her close through the night, feeling her soft breasts and hearing her light snores. They eventually turned over, facing opposite sides.
Jonathan curled up next to her, positioning his chin in the crook of her neck. He kissed her gently on the temple, then the cheek. “Wake up, Zo,” he whispered into her ear, biting the lobe gently. He rubbed her bare back, going from shoulder to shoulder with his hands.
He couldn’t believe he had gotten this lucky. Going into the weekend, he was optimistic, hoping for some closure and forgiveness, and in the very best scenario, becoming friends with Zoey again. They had a lot of things to discuss and figure out, but he knew he needed her in his life. He had made a decision that haunted him, still followed him around, made regret a constant companion. Now, the course of his life pointed back to her.
Zoey stirred and rolled over. She smacked her lips, her eyes still closed. “What time is it?”
“Almost nine thirty,” Jonathan said.
Zoey sat straight up. “Caroline and Brady are coming over at ten to help clean up. Oh shit…oh shit!”
“We have a half hour,” Jonathan said, snuggling in her neck, kissing her jawline.
“I need clothes. I need coffee. I’m tired and not tired,” Zoey said. She rubbed her eyes. “That sure was a lot of fun last night.”
“Absolutely,” Jonathan said, kissing her cheek again.
Zoey leaned in, holding his chin with the pads of her fingers. She brushed a slow kiss on his lips, deliberate and intoxicating. “Let’s get this shit cleaned up. And get some clothes on.”
Jonathan groaned as he flipped the covers back and stood up with a whine.
They decided to divide and conquer. Jonathan started the coffee and found some eggs in the fridge while Zoey got dressed. Jonathan heard a door knock just as the toaster dinged.
Jonathan opened the door with an arm spread and a huge grin. “Welcome, newlyweds!”
Caroline and Brady stood shell-shocked at Jonathan’s exuberance.
“You’re in a good mood,” Caroline said as she walked past Jonathan, looking him and the living area up and down for clues. Jonathan was fully clothed, and he had combed through the space, careful to remove the shorts Zoey had been wearing moments before they had sex on the couch. He had accounted for all the condoms used in the wee hours of the morning by checking the trash compulsively.
“Are you drunk?” Brady said, walking in after Caroline. Jonathan noticed that they wore matching red tracksuits, something they’d joked about when they first got engaged. The back of Caroline’s said “Mrs. Brady” and Brady’s said “Mr. Brady Brady.” They both wore white tennis shoes, and Caroline wore a white baseball hat that said BRIDE across the top, curls still intact from the night before.
“Nice tracksuits,” Jonathan said.
“Oh my God…hi, newlyweds!” Zoey said, appearing from around the corner. She wore a strappy tank top and athletic shorts. Jonathan noticed she had something lacy peeking out from the tank top, something he would investigate later. Zoey looked well rested and relaxed, and Jonathan mentally patted himself on the back for that.
“Hi!” Caroline said, hugging Zoey. “You two must’ve had fun last night.”
Zoey crossed her arms. “It was okay. I was really tired, though.”
Jonathan noticed a hint of a smirk across her lips. He winked at her, and Zoey winked back.
Caroline and Brady caught Jonathan’s wink. He straightened his face and also nodded. Jonathan echoed, “We were so tired.”
“Tell me about it.” Caroline said, flopping onto the couch, the exact spot where her best friend had been moaning a mere eight hours earlier. “We were so tired that I took the dress off and fell asleep in my bridal underwear.”
“I was about the same. In my groom underwear,” Brady said, sitting next to her.
“Have you seen outside, by the way? It’s gorgeous,” Caroline said. “It’s annoying how sunny it is outside when it poured yesterday.”
“It was a beautiful wedding,” Zoey said. Jonathan plated some eggs and toast for Zoey, and she thanked him. “I had so much fun.”
“All in all, not a bad night,” Brady said, taking Caroline in a side hug as he planted a loud smack of a kiss on her temple.
“The hosts said we could check out at one. Let’s get this cleaned up so I don’t get charged a cleaning fee. After you eat your eggs, of course.”
They both nodded as they chewed ravenously, hoping they wouldn’t be asked any more questions. Brady and Caroline watched them intently. Jonathan heard Brady whisper, “Goddamnit, I’m out forty bucks, hon.”
19
After they finished their plates, Zoey stayed in the kitchen with a black trash bag and started throwing out perishable food and stuff they couldn’t take home. Jonathan and Brady retreated to their rooms to pack, and Caroline tentatively approached the kitchen island, resting her elbows and hunching over.
“So, Brady and I were so tired we didn’t consummate our marriage last night,” Caroline said. “I have a feeling that I will be envious of whatever happened between you and Jonathan.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Like, three-and-a-half times don’t know what you’re talking about.” Zoey wiped down a pan with a devilish smile.
Throughout that morning, she’d been having flashes of the night before. She skipped from memory to memory, not dwelling for too long or her thighs clenched. She felt giddy for Monday, a whole day to spend together.
Caroline pumped her fist and leaned in. “How was it?”
“Hot and culminating and…confusing.” Zoey looked down with scrunched eyebrows.
“Confusing?”
“Like, I have no idea what is going to happen with us.”
“Ah. You’ll figure it out.” Caroline hopped down from the stool. “I’m glad you got laid properly, even if it was confusing.”
“I can’t thank you enough for the love shack. Ended my drought.”
“It was a good run, though. Made up for your slutty time after Lance.”
Zoey scrunched her face in embarrassment as she remembered a very specific six months when she was twenty-three.
“Speaking of slutty, I did see Dan around the hotel at the buffet,” Caroline continued.
“He was babysitting Derek for Addison,” Zoey said, drinking some of her own coffee. “He stayed the night with him, and Addison bunked with Taylor.”
“I know that,” Caroline said. “He was carrying grapefruit juice. And three hard-boiled eggs.”
Zoey leaned back and gasped, grabbing her chest. She then leaned forward with narrowed eyes. “Okay, I don’t actually know what means.”
“Makenna,” Caroline said. “Makenna is the only person I know who drinks grapefruit juice straight, and she eats hard-boiled eggs every morning. We know it’s not Addison.”